QuickBooks Self-Employed has three pricing tiers for 2026, ranging from $15/month to $35/month. Understanding what each tier includes — and which one freelancers actually need — can save you from overpaying or under-buying.
QuickBooks Self-Employed Plans & Pricing 2026
### Plan 1: Self-Employed — $15/month
The entry plan includes everything most freelancers need for day-to-day bookkeeping:
- •Income and expense tracking: Connect your bank and credit card accounts; transactions are auto-imported and categorized.
- •Quarterly tax estimates: Automatically calculates your estimated quarterly payments based on your income and expenses.
- •Mileage tracking: GPS-based tracking via the mobile app. Log business drives automatically.
- •Basic invoicing: Create and send professional invoices, though customization is limited.
- •Schedule C prep: Categorizes expenses in Schedule C format, ready for tax time.
- •30-day free trial (no credit card required)
Who this is for: Freelancers who file taxes with TurboTax, H&R Block, or their own CPA. You do the bookkeeping here, file taxes elsewhere.
### Plan 2: Self-Employed Tax Bundle — $25/month
Everything in the basic plan, plus:
- •TurboTax Self-Employed included: One federal + one state return included at no additional cost (normally $129 + $49-59).
- •Live tax advice (limited): Access to tax professionals during filing season.
- •One-click export: Your QuickBooks data transfers directly to TurboTax — no manual re-entry.
Who this is for: Freelancers who plan to use TurboTax for filing. At $300/year, this plan is often cheaper than buying QuickBooks ($180/year) + TurboTax ($178-188) separately.
The math: $25/month × 12 = $300/year. vs. Basic QuickBooks ($15 × 12 = $180) + TurboTax SE ($129 federal + $49 state = $178) = $358/year. You save $58/year with the bundle.
### Plan 3: Self-Employed Live Tax Bundle — $35/month
Everything in the Tax Bundle, plus:
- •Year-round CPA access: Ask tax questions any time of year, not just during filing season.
- •Final review by a CPA: A tax professional reviews your return before you file.
- •Full TurboTax Live: Comprehensive CPA oversight.
Who this is for: High-income freelancers ($100k+) who want professional oversight without hiring a full-time CPA. At $420/year, it's significantly cheaper than an accountant ($1,500–$3,000/year) while still providing professional review.
Is QuickBooks Self-Employed Worth the Cost?
### Yes, if: - You have $50k+ in annual freelance income - You want quarterly tax estimates built in (no separate calculator needed) - You use TurboTax (the Tax Bundle pays for itself) - You drive for business and want automatic mileage tracking - You value the Schedule C export at tax time
### No, if: - You earn under $30k/year (free Wave is sufficient) - You don't need quarterly tax estimates - You prefer more robust invoicing (FreshBooks is better) - You need payroll or inventory (you need a more advanced QuickBooks plan)
QuickBooks Self-Employed vs Free Alternatives
| Feature | QuickBooks SE ($15/mo) | Wave (Free) | |---------|----------------------|-------------| | Income tracking | ✓ | ✓ | | Expense categorization | ✓ | ✓ | | Invoicing | Basic | Good | | Quarterly tax estimates | ✓ | ✗ | | Mileage tracking | ✓ (GPS) | ✗ | | Schedule C export | ✓ | Manual | | TurboTax integration | ✓ | ✗ |
Bottom line: Wave is the right choice if you're under $30k/year or don't need quarterly tax estimates. QuickBooks Self-Employed earns its $15/month once you're billing consistently and want quarterly tax guidance built in.
For a full side-by-side comparison, see our QuickBooks Self-Employed vs Wave review or read our complete QuickBooks SE review.